MS4 Program

History and Purpose

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Program is mandated under the federal Clean Water Act and delegated to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality for implementation. An NPDES MS4 permit is required for an MS4 owner or operator that is within a U.S. Census Bureau-designated Urbanized Area. This program expands with each new Census. Other entities are also designated to obtain permit coverage in accordance with state rules [15A NCAC 02H .0151]. 

The MS4 Program extends permit coverage to communities with populations less than 100,000 and public entities that own or operate a municipal separate storm sewer system. Stallings has been a MS4 community since 2005.

NPDES MS4 permits are implemented at the local level, and every permitted MS4 is required to implement a comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) which includes six minimum control measures:

1. Public Education & Outreach

2. Public Involvement & Participation

3. Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination

4. Construction Site Runoff Controls

5. Post-Construction Site Runoff Controls

6. Pollution Prevention & Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations

   1. Municipal Facilities Operation and Maintenance

   2. Spill Response

   3. MS4 Operation and Maintenance

   4. Municipal Stormwater Control Measure (SCM) Operation and Maintenance

   5. Pesticide, Herbicide and Fertilizer Management

   6. Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance

   7. Pavement Management

Town of Stallings' MS4 Permit and Storm Water Management Plan

Click here to see the Town of Stallings' National Pollutant Discharge Elinination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit issued by NCDEQ.

Click here to see the Town of Stallings' Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) issued as a part of NCDEQ's MS4 Program.

Additional Resources

NCDEQ NPDES MS4 Progrm Website

EPA NPDES Program Information

Clean Water Act